October 6, 2017
Dear Family of Mary!
I think Our Lady really likes birthdays! Why do I think that? Well yesterday was my birthday. I wanted to keep it quiet, as it was just my birthday, nothing special. And October 5 is the Feast day for St. Faustina, which is far more important!!
But I think Our Lady likes birthdays! We were able to go to English Mass at 10:00 am, and the homily was just full of joy over St. Faustina and Divine Mercy. I was so elated, because as you all know, I love St. Faustina! During that homily I silently asked Our Lady and St. Faustina if they could find a way for me to go to the Divine Mercy Shrine in Surmanci, the tiny village just over the mountain from Medjugorje. We don’t have a car, and it seemed that we would not be able to squeeze such a visit in.
Sunday, August 5, 1984
The celebration of the second millennium of Mary’s birthday was preceded by three days of fasting and continuous prayer. Seventy priests heard confessions without rest; there were a great number of conversions. “Never in my life have I cried with sorrow, as I have cried this evening with joy. Thank you!”
In anticipation of this day Our Lady had said: “The priest who will hear confession will have great joy on that day.” During these 3 days of fasting and continuous prayer the visionaries say the Blessed Virgin was: Very Joyful. Our Lady repeated: “I am very happy, continue, continue. Continue to pray and to fast.”
Her joy seemed to have reached a peak Sunday, August 5th. Like a flower when it blooms, and full of joy, Our Lady said: “Continue, continue, open your hearts, ask God and I will ask for you.”
This river runs to Mostar, and Denis remembered once walking the whole way from Mostar in the night along this river. But that’s another story!
We drove down to the little church, arriving at about 11:30 am.
As we entered, we heard singing in Polish. There was a pilgrimage group from Poland, celebrating Holy Mass in honor of St. Faustina! Not only had Our Lady arranged for me to go to Surmanci, but St. Faustina had also arranged for us to be included in Holy Mass at the Shrine, surrounded by her countrymen!
Together we received Jesus, and then we were able to venerate the First Class Relics of St. Faustina and John Paul II!! What a blessing!
We were all filled with emotion at the graces we received at the Divine Mercy Shrine in Surmanci. Both saints, St. Faustina and St. John Paull II, were very present there. Very present!
We drove back to the Mary TV Tea House and were greeted by Rosie and several of our shipmates, with a birthday cake with rockets on it:
Thank you for joining me in this pilgrimage! And thank you all for your birthday greetings. They bless me!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
(c)Mary TV 2017